Monthly Archives: December 2010

In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa over the summer, Fifa, the international governing body of professional football, actively spoke out against racism. Before every match, players from both sides came together and held a banner that read,“Say no to racism”.

But Fifa hasn’t been nearly so vocal in speaking out against other forms of discrimination. In fact, on the subject of homophobia, Fifa has been conspicuously silent.

England captain, Rio Ferdinand - John Dempsey, Creative Commons

Described as the scourge of football by England captain Rio Ferdinand, homophobia is something that, though prevalent in the stands of football stadiums across Europe, manages to go largely unaddressed.

The problem begins and ends with the fans. Football stands have long been the home of some of the worst society has to offer, from racism to neo-fascism, and racial and homophobic slurs targeted at players can often be heard. Many cite this as the primary obstacle to gay footballers coming out.

Earlier this year, the <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_Association” target=”_blank”>Football Association</A> (FA) of England released a video addressing homophobia in English football. It took the FA two years to release the video, which depicts a white-collar football fan using slurs against people in everyday life, and the campaign which the video is a part of is completely devoid of professional English footballers.

But this is hardly surprising. As Musa Okwonga, a blogger for the Independent newspaper in London, writes, homosexual footballers shouldn’t come out if it makes them uncomfortable. Okwonga acknowledges the physical and professional dangers of coming out, but thinks that the internal struggle of figuring out one’s sexuality might be another important component.

In the last 20 years there has been only one prominent case of a professional footballer coming out. Justin Fashanu was an English player who played for such clubs as West Ham and Manchester City. Fashanu came out in 1990 and was immediately condemned, and even publicly disowned by his brother.

He committed suicide in 1997.

The BBC’s Inside Out produced a short documentary on homosexuality in football, which touched on Fashanu’s case.

The homophobic culture of football is one that will take time to change, and won’t unless the entire football community comes together to change it. Football is a beautiful sport, one that brings people together, and it is truly sad to see that it is still a harbor for so much hate.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is currently Germany’s defense minister. He strives to be seen as a “cool” conservative in order to get the interest and attention of younger generations. He urges that Germany and it’s lawmakers need a new way of doing things, including eliminating mandatory military service. However, his family may not be helping him out too much…

Karl’s wife, Stephanie Guttenberg, has recently written a book called “Schaut Nicht Weg!” or, “Don’t Look Away!” in English. Her new book is meant to be literature that speaks to cases of sexual abuse. So, you’re asking yourself, “What on Earth does this have to do with Lady Gaga?” The answer is that she condemns multiple pop culture icons such as Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and ,with special attention paid, Lady Gaga.

Guttenberg argues that the internet is chalk full with pornographic images. At the same time, the internet is a very important place where pop culture is spread and this pop culture often plays with sexual images. So, in Stephanie Guttenberg’s mind, having pornographic images in the same place as sexy pop stars means that these pop stars are contributing to cases of sexual abuse? I think not!

I could potentially see someone making an argument that these new pop icons undermine important morals of society (one could probably use the video above to make that argument). But, saying that pop stars are increasing cases of sexual abuse due to them being in the same forum as pornography is ridiculous! There are also pictures of Hooters waitresses on the internet, but I would never blame that waitress for an orphan being subjected to sexual abuse! And, just to add a touch of irony, this is the same Stephanie Guttenberg who met her current husband at the Love Parade in 1995!

These statements have certainly made her some new enemies and I can’t imagine that her Husband, defense minister Karl-Theodor Guttenberg, is too happy about her taking such an extreme conservative stance when he is trying to be viewed as a “cool” conservative.

Everyone knows, the first step of being “cool” is being down with the Gaga.

When German police came upon a six-foot tall marijuana plant during a recent drug bust in Rheinland-Pfalz, they probably couldn’t help but be a little cheered by the plant’s holiday spirit. Adorned with tinsel and decorations, this little marijuana tree was part of one German’s Christmas “tradition”—that is, before the plant and 150 grams of its green companions were confiscated by the police.

This comes after another German got busted for a home-made Advent Calendar with – Surprise! – little green buds behind each door instead of candy. According to the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the police actually only wanted to take the 21-year-old Bavarian’s driver’s license (at his home?) but the drug-sniffing canine they brought with them detected other “delectables“ hidden in the calendar. The man claimed the calendar was a gift for someone else, but nevertheless got written up for possession of an illegal substance.

Berliners have long enjoyed their city’s soft stance on marijuana. It’s not uncommon to see someone taking a deep drag on a joint in a city park or rolling one in the back of a café.

While most states define a “small amount” as up to 6 grams, Berlin has traditionally allowed 10 grams. Now, a new law stands to change that amount to 15 grams, but at the same time, Berlin is trying to crack down on drug dealers. Some Berliners are worried that upping the acceptable amount will make it easier for dealers to get away with it.

One popular Youtube video that had more than 750,000 views argues a pretty strong pro-legalization case. The song is called “The Magical Tax” (Die Zaubersteuer) and argues that marijuana should legalized, if not for pleasure, then at least for the sake of the economy!

As in America (most notably California), the Great Hemp Debate is likely to continue in Germany. It’s just that German officials seem more likely to look the other way when it comes to prosecution for mere possession. In fact, as an article on German drug policy points out:

Public prosecutors may decline prosecution of drug offenses — without consent by the court — if the prosecutor considers the offender’s guilt to be minor or if there is no compelling public interest in prosecution.

Unfortunately for the hippie in Rheinland-Pfalz, that didn’t stop the police from making the holiday hash bust.

So much for spreading some Christmas cheer. Christmas brownies, anyone?

Since my father is British, Christmas with my family at my aunt’s house includes the mandatory trifle and mysterious Christmas pudding. Both impressive feats of culinary design and imagination.

The trifle is usually made from thick custard, fruit, cake, gelatin, and cream. Arranged in layers with fruit and sponge on the bottom and custard and cream on top – it is a colossal but delicious desert, with many variations based upon one’s family tradition. For example, some styles include the “Creole Christmas Trifle.”

In honor of AIDS Awareness Day on Wednesday, December 1st, a German organization named Vergiss AIDS nicht wrapped up their game for encouraging men to wear condoms and unleashed it upon the world. Things you will need: a computer with a camera, a lock on your door, and a whole lot of dignity that you’re willing to lose.

The game is called “Cock Out”, and you can – and should – play it alone (Check out the video after the jump – NSFW.) The game pits you, a virtual representation of a man’s undercarriage, in a boxing match against the AIDS virus, or what looks like a demonic tick, complete with boxing gloves, green eyes, and missing teeth.

Somebody is about to get a beat down (pun absolutely intended!)

You must thrust and smack and beat (boxers DO DO all of these things) the virus to win the match and feel the satisfaction of using your manhood to save the day! Oh, and did I forget to mention that the controller is a digital condom that syncs up to your web cam, so that however you move, so does your character move in the game.

Vergiss AIDS nicht wanted to create something that would encourage safe sex practices without being overly heavy-handed or preachy.

Germany and Europe in general have a different approach to sexual education than in the United States. Slate.com contributing writer Rachael Phelps created a slideshow about these differences, particularly those between Denmark, the country with the lowest teen pregnancy rating, and the United States, which has the highest teen pregnancy rating in the world – you can find it here. Europeans have a more realistic and healthy view of sexuality than the United States as evidenced by the quality and quantity of safe sex and condom advertisements. In a blog post by Dr. Karen Rayne, she speaks about how prevalent condom advertisements are in Germany, even in small villages.

Feeling unsatisfied so far? Check out this video created by a condom company showing how much fun it can be to have kids that you are not ready for. And when you have returned from the store with your birth control, continue reading.

Here is a small sampling of condom advertisements from Europe. They were created at machsmit.de, an organization whose aim is to provide information about AIDS in an informative humorous format. They even have an advertisement generator on their website where you can make your own safe sex image using their software.

"Sicher macht lustig!" = "Sure is fun!" or "Saftey is fun!"

"Gefühle entdecken" = Discovering emotions

"Sex auf dem Boden" = Sex on the floor

It isn’t hard to see why with ads like these that condom use is much more prevalent in Europe than in the United States. The way that these ads portray safe sex is their strongest feature. Unlike in the USA, where the fear of pregnancy is touted as the number one reason to use contraceptives, in Europe, it is the protecting of oneself from disease that is mostly spoken about. AIDS is an incredibly serious disease that kills thousands of people every year, and these ads are focused on telling people that using contraceptives can help prevent them from getting this life-threatening disease. Some individuals might see “Cock Out” as a gross misuse of such a serious issue. Yet, it is through preemptive behavior and creative teaching methods that we can and will be able to beat AIDS, and the sheer fact of the matter is that safe sex practices have proven effective. Also, whatever way you can get people to do something smart and helpful, the more power to you.

Being able to relate to something makes it much easier to understand, and the creativity behind what Vergiss AIDS nicht and mach’s mit are doing is helping to spread a message of utmost importance. If men truly think about sex every 7 seconds, maybe these ads for condoms will pop into their minds also, reminding them to wrap up before they go discovering new horizons. Though I haven’t tried “Cock Out” yet, and probably won’t, it is refreshing to know that there are organizations working very hard to get the word out that not wearing a condom is no laughing matter (unless the “Cock Out” condom controller doesn’t fit because it is too big… but that’s a whole other issue altogether.)

Chances are that you’ve probably heard of a band called Phoenix. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve surely heard at least a song or two by them on the radio, an advertisement for Apple, or in countless 2010 television and film releases. What you may not know about this band with impeccable English lyrics and an enjoyable electro-pop sound is that they are French.

The band’s front man Thomas Mars and his fellow band members grew up just outside of Paris in Versailles. Despite their French background, the band has struggled to gain popularity in France largely because of French sanctions that require the majority of the music played on the radio to be in French. Until recently, Phoenix had been more or less shunned by their homeland because they weren’t singing in their native language. It’s interesting that Phoenix was all but rejected by the French because of this. Though I think it’s almost certain that you wouldn’t hear an entirely French song on American airwaves, a French verse or two often seem to sneak their way into some popular songs.

Even though they weren’t necessarily accepted in France, doesn’t mean that their French background didn’t influence their music. Of growing up in Versailles, Mars explains that it was like living in a museum. He says, “The frustration we had was that everything great happened in the past, and they wouldn’t give the chance for anything new to happen.” Mars and his young band mates were determined to make something new happen, despite this background. The band was also heavily influenced by the French yé-yé music of the 1960s.

Finally, there’s the aspect of language in their music. What drives a native speaker of French to create music in English, especially considering that some of the greatest poets and authors have been French? Perhaps it is simply a ploy to be more marketable, or perhaps this relates back to the band’s resistance to the versaillais opinion that all great things have been done. Instead of going along with tradition and singing in French, they have chosen to do something new and sing their French thoughts in English. Perhaps, I’m over thinking this though. Mars says, “When I started writing, the first thing that came out was in English. I liked a few French things, but they were very overwhelming.” He also says, “It’s much easier to sing in English because it seems that all the words are more separate; they don’t have to blend.”

It seems as though that this choice to sing in English has certainly paid off for the French band. Since the release of their 2009 album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, they have had a song hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Rock charts, earned a Grammy, and have finally started playing gigs in front of welcoming French audiences.

And le plus belle femme de France is (and the most beautiful woman in France is)…

Miss Bretagne!… And Miss Provence!

Wait… there are two winners for France’s beauty pageant?

Actually, there are two beauty pageants, and one winner for each pageant. This past weekend, Laury Thilleman of the Bretagne province became the winner of Miss France, while Barbara Morel of the Provence region was the winner of Geneviève de Fontenay’s new rival pageant, Miss Nationale.

Apparently, ever since de Fontenay sold her rights for Miss France to Endemol (a TV production company specializing in reality television) in 2002, she had been in constant struggle with Endemol’s ethical priorities (or as de Fontenay would say, lack thereof). These battles escalated when the pageant decided to allow two-piece bathing suits, and especially after erotic photos of Miss France 2008 surfaced and her title was revoked. But it wasn’t until Endemol invited Ex-Miss Paris 2009, Kelly Bechenko (title revoked – again, due to erotic photos), to appear on one of their reality television series, when de Fontenay finally lost it.

To have an idea of de Fontenay’s freak-outs, watch her reaction to a related scandal:

De Fontenay was furious with Endemol, saying that the production company did not comply with the rules of decency and the values of the society. In protest, de Fontenay split from Miss France to form her own “historic wing” or “traditionalist” pageant – Miss Nationale. It has become “a battle to defend the ‘soul’ of the nation and ‘traditional French values’ in a wicked world obsessed with money and sex” (Siasat). Miss Nationale is an ambassador for France, representing a proud French culture. That burden must be carried with respect and dignity, for herself and her country.

Tea drinking in Russia dates back to 1638 when Mongols introduced the drink to the area. Since then, most likely thanks to Russia’s cold climate, tea has remained a popular drink Russia.

In Moscow, there is even the Moscow Tea Museum. There, a “tea master,” hosts tea ceremonies for visitors. A team master is responsible for knowing how to prepare the water. Also, they need to know all about the six different kinds of teas – where they grow, how they are gathered and how they can influence people.

Most importantly, the tea master is in charge of creating the necessary tea atmosphere. The goal is to immerse the tea drinker in the ambience, and to create a strong emotional reaction while drinking the tea.

What separates Russian tea culture from others is the brewing process. They use a two-step brewing process. The first step involves brewing a portion of dry tea in a small teapot. The second step involves pouring the brew into teacups, allowing each drinker to add as much or as little water as wanted (so each drinker can make their tea just as strong as they would like to).

The first part of the Harry Potter finale launched in theaters several weeks ago, and the number of people that have swarmed to see it is truly magical. On opening weekend, the movie made over $125 million, which is No. 6 on the box office list.

People are often unaware of the amount of European cultural, mythological and religious references in the books by J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, played by Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, respectively.

In the first of Rowling’s novels, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (or “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” as it is known in the United States) the philosopher’s stone is said to be made by Nicolas Flamel. In the book, Lord Voldemort, the villain in the series, is chasing after the stone because it is an elixir of life. In real life, Flamel was an alchemist who supposedly created a philosopher’s stone, which turned metal into gold. Flamel, who is 665 years old, was a real person who lived in Paris in the 1300’s. If you go back 665 years from 1997 when the book was published, Flamel would have been born in 1332. His house in Paris is still existent today and is the oldest house in Paris. Also, a road in Paris near the Louvre Museum, the rue Nicolas Flamel, has been named after him. It intersects with the rue Perenelle, which is named after Flamel’s wife.

Nicolas Flamel's house in Paris.

Rowling also has several references in her series from mythology. Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather, is named after the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, one of Orion’s hunting dogs. In the series, Black has the capability of turning into a black dog. Sirius’ brother, Regulus Arcturus Black, who becomes an important character in the final book, “The Deathly Hallows,” is named after the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion. Bellatrix Lestrange, who is one of Voldemort’s main warriors, is named after one of the shoulder stars in the constellation Orion.

One cannot also help but notice the similarities between Voldemort and former German dictator Hitler. Hitler wanted a Germany made up of only the “Aryan race,” or full-blooded Germans, and killed people that were not of Aryan decent. In Harry Potter, Voldemort and his Death Eaters want a “pureblood society,” or those that are of 100% magical blood, and kill witches and wizards that are not 100% magical blood. Witches and wizards that are not 100% magical are called “Mudbloods.” One of the main characters, Hermione Granger, who is played by Emma Watson, is a “Mudblood,” which often makes her a target of Voldemort’s followers. In the new movie, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” there is a scene where Granger is tortured by Lestrange, and “Mudblood” is etched in blood on Granger’s arm. When filming this scene, director David Yates had to stop filming because he was so scared by the way Watson was acting out the scene.

The first time we did it, I [did] yell cut,” Yates said. “Emma said, ‘You cut too early! You cut too early!’ She was getting to this intense point. And I said, ‘Well, it was getting scary, Ems!’ And she said, ‘No no no no, let me try, let me try.’ There were one or two moments that were really powerful, where Emma was able to just let go a little bit and forget for a moment that she was acting. And the screams were quite horrible to listen to. It was a very odd energy in the room. She was kind of exploring and exorcising demons really, and serving the scene doing that. I felt in that moment, and in that day and in that room, she kind of crossed the line as an actress.”

In addition to these cultural references, this blog goes through many other references that Rowling uses in the Harry Potter series.

Below is a trailer for the latest Harry Potter movie, which hit theaters November 19.

What do the European masses desire? I mean what really gets Europeans going? Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights strain and cuddly kittens; these are the objects of desire that come to mind when I try to answer the question: To give this claim some validity let’s explore some examples. For an interesting twist we will examine European desire using the theme ‘Northern Lights’ – A fascinating concept that applies to sex, drugs and cuddly kittens.

The northern lights are a fascinating natural phenomenon, which is scientifically called Aurora Borealis. These polar lights are seen more intensely near the northern Polar Regions of the earth and typically at night. However far from the North Pole the German speaking world is, native German speakers can still witness Aurora Borealis from home through a high exposure camera or, to a lesser extent, with the naked eye.As far as Germans’ desire goes, well it would only be sexist and controversial to blog about naked women. Let’s think instead about Aurora Borealis as euphemism for sex: it is something you seek out, enjoy and is very beautiful.

THC found in Marijuana can induce an altered psychoactive mental state of simultaneous calmness, stimulation and mild hallucination along with a physical state of a raised heart rate. Northern lights is a particularly sought after strand of Marijuana for its ease of cultivating and high THC content. As some of the effects of Marijuana are positive, German and non German speakers alike may be drawn to using the drug. It should be noted that the possession of Marijuana is illegal in Germany and the legal consequences depend on the Bundesland.

Kitties are cuddly and cute! I think it is safe to say that people all over the world just want to look at kitties! Aurora (as in Aurora Borealis) would be a great name for a cat!

With the first days of advent came the snow in Germany and even Columbia had a few shy flakes of that wonderfully soft and sparkly stuff the other day. I already had a few Glühweins this year with friends and my roommates made the first Christmas cookies of the year. The stores have been playing Christmas music for a few weeks already and everybody seems to get into the mood for the holidays. What’s remarkable though is that there really isn’t that much difference between Christmas in the US and modern Christmas in Germany. The traditional side of Christmas celebrations are a completely different story and sure enough there are distinctive differences and are still valid today. Germans get their presents on Christmas Eve under a real tree and not on the 25th under a plastic one, Americans usually don’t go to Christmas markets like they can be found in every town in Germany, and in Germany nobody would be offended when people wish you a Merry Christmas. But, really, the idea is the same.

When you listen to Christmas music on the radio, the small differences disappear completely – Christmas music in Germany and the US does not differ at all (If you subtract American country Christmas songs, that is). And this made me think. As far as I am aware, Germans don’t have many christmassy pop songs. Most of the Christmas music played on the radio is the same as on American radio stations, meaning it’s American Christmas music. You hear Bing Cosby and Frank Sinatra, Jingle Bells and Jingle Bells Rock, The Christmas Song and well, unavoidably, you hear Wham! with Last Christmas. (see video 3) This song is a Christmas “Evergreen,” as German’s would say. The song hits number one every year and is a sure indicator of Christmas. More reliable than snow, more reliable than Christmas sales, and probably more reliable than Santa Claus.